Gqada said although the key coastal recreation points where most people gather had been designated dog-free zones, the city had allocated areas adjacent to these beaches for people to walk their dogs on the coastline.

She said the presence of dogs on the city's beaches was at times a contentious issue which sparked much public debate.

"For many, dog-walking is an important part of their coastal experience as well as a form of social recreation.

"However, the city also recognises that dogs can, at times, negatively impact on the experience of other beach-users.

"In addition, there have, unfortunately, been reports of incidents of conflict between dogs and beach-users," she said.

Last year two-year-old Meeka Riley Lackay from Bridgetown was attacked by an unleashed Rottweiler on Clifton's First Beach.

She had surgery and the owner of the dog, James Lech, was fined R1 500 for contravening the regulations governing the walking of dogs on beaches.

The city's executive director for safety and security, Richard Bosman, said metro police would conduct regular patrols on the beaches to monitor the city's by-laws.

Owners can be fined between R500 and R2 000 for offences that include permitting a dog to be in a public street or public place without being on a leash and under control, and permitting "any dog which is ferocious, vicious or dangerous to be in any public street or public place, unless humanely muzzled and held on a leash and under control".

Gqada said the decision was not a new policy, but rather a system the city was applying during the peak season.

In the past the city had demarcated areas where dogs were allowed on beaches during certain times of the day, but Gqada said that system had been ineffective because compliance by dog-walkers was poor.

She said the sport, recreation and amenities department would review the new measures after summer.